Voluntary Male Medical Circumcision

Background

The Kenyan Male Circumcision program was launched on 24th November 2008 as an additional HIV prevention strategy in the then Nyanza province, but has since been scaled up nationally, while prioritizing regions with highest HIV prevalence and low male circumcision prevalence. The catch-up phase which aimed to rapidly circumcise large numbers of eligible males within the shortest time to achieve the intended public health impact was rolled out essentially as a vertical program because of the large resources required in achieving program public health goals. This phase was guided by the Kenya policy guidance on male circumcision and the first national VMMC strategy. These strategic documents addressed community engagement processes and buy-in, roles of different state and non-state actors and service provision. However, the specific aspects of integration and long-term sustainability components were not specified.

Currently the bulk of VMMC program financing and support structures are still largely donor driven. However, with the imminent shift in donor priorities and diminishing external funding support as the HIV epidemic stabilizes globally, there is need to refocus resources and policies to ensuring improved outcomes already attained are sustained. Specific policies / guidelines are required to address aspects of integration of scaled up VMMC program activities, commodity needs as well as allocation of finances to support these needs from the domestic sources. Additionally, the guidelines are expected to operationalize aspirations highlighted in the current second national VMMC strategy. Advocacy with policy makers and implementers is necessary to promptly initiate and complete the policy making process with regard to resource allocation and management largely based on domestic financing.

Mission

To provide a framework for universal access for safe and sustainable Medical Male Circumcision services.

Vision

An HIV and AIDS- free society in Kenya.

What the Program does

Advocates for and offers safe and voluntary medical male circumcision with the main aim of preventing heterosexually acquired HIV infection. VMMC services are offered as a package with the minimum being HIV Testing and Counselling, Behavioural change communication, Reduction of risky behaviour, Condom promotion and distribution, Male circumcision performed as per “ The Clinical Manual for male circumcision under local anaesthesia. Clients who test HIV positive are also referred for care and treatment.

Partners involved

PEPFAR/CDC ,FHI, NRHS,IRDO,EDARP, APHIA II and APHIA Plus.

Achievements

World leader in providing male circumcision services for HIV prevention having done over 1.2 Million Mcs at the end of December 2015. The HIV testing rate for this number is 84% and this has helped in addressing the discrepancy that previously existed between male and female testing rates

The Ministry of Health and the National AIDS and STI programme (NASCOP) on Tuesday launched the PrePex circumcision device which they say will address some of the barriers faced during the traditional rite of passage.

The device is said to have very low and mild side effects with medics stating that it is bloodless, faster and easier.

A study showed that providing the male circumcision devices as an alternative method to conventional circumcision would encourage many men to seek circumcision.

An Israeli-made, less painful and bloodless circumcision device was launched in Kenya during PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit.

PrePex uses a small plastic device to clip the foreskin. This stops blood flow causing the foreskin to die off over seven days. There is no bleeding and stitches are not needed.

The device will encourage more people to get circumcised, said National Aids and STI Programme (Nascop) head Martin Sirengo.

“Most men don’t get circumcised for fear of pain but the PrePex circumcision device is less painful and internationally meets the safety threshold,” Sirengo said during the launch in Nairobi on Tuesday.

Kenya is set to introduce a new non-surgical male circumcision device to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, an official said on Tuesday.

Martin Sirengo, the head of National AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Health Ministry, said PrePex procedure, a non-surgical, bloodless, fast and easier medical circumcision device, had been piloted in the country since 2015.

“The study has shown that PrePex male device meets the safety standards used internationally for such devices to pave way for its use in Kenya,” he said during the release of a report on the PrePex Male Circumcision Device in the country.